Linking needle for chain stitch linking machine



March 31, 1970 D. MATTHEWS 3,503,353

I LINKING NEEDLE FQR CHAIN STITCH LINKING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 11 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y DENI$ MATTHEWS M h 1970 D. MATTHEWS 3,503,353

LINKING NEEDLE FOR CHAIN STITCH LINKING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 11 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 DEN l5 MHTTHEWS March 31, 1970 D. MATTHEWS 3,503,353

LINKING NEEDLE FOR CHAIN ST IT CH- LINKING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. -1.1, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet :5

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United States Patent 3,503,353 LINKING NEEDLE FOR CHAIN STITCH LINKING MACHINE Denis Matthews, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire,

England, assignor to Matthews & Birkhamshaw Limited, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, England Original application Feb. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 257,715, now

Patent No. 3,265,021, dated Aug. 9, 1966. Divided and this application Nov. 30, 1965, Ser. No. 510,534 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Feb. 12, 1962,

5,358/62; June 6, 1962, 21,817/62 Int. Cl. Db 85/00, 7/00 US. Cl. 112-222 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A linking needle for a chain stitch linking machine is disclosed as comprising an elongated stem having a shank portion at one end for releasable attachment in an operating member of a linking machine, the opposite end of the stem having an elongated imperforate portion of constantly substantially circular cross section gradually tapering to a point suitable to readily penetrate loops of overlapped fabric portions to be chain stitched to each other. The needle has yarn and loop control means, including a slot formed in and extending generally obliquely across the stem inwardly of the imperforate portion and inwardly from a surface of the stem, to releasably receive new yarn, the slot formation defining a hook facing away from the point and having an outer surface included within the forwardly extending, peripherally conforming projection of that surface of the stem inwardly of the hook. The outer surface enables the passage of the yarn over the slot, so that the needle may be used without requiring a complex looper.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This is a division of application Ser. No. 257,715, filed Feb. 11, 1963, now Patent No. 3,265,021.

This invention relates to an improved linking machine needle in or for a linking machine of the type in which a yarn control needle is operative on a joining yarn in stitching together two or more overlapping portions or loops of fabric by chain stitching.

In linking machines of this type the needle usually comprises a stem of straight or curved form, with one end portion adapted for releasable attachment to a reciprocated or oscillated machine operating member, and the opposite fabric-engaging end portion tapering substantially to a point for passing to and fro through the fabric portions or loops, and there being an eyelet in the fabric-engaging end portion through which the yarn is threaded.

As is well known a needle of this type is only capable of operation for carrying with it, during its passage through the fabric portions or loops, a narrow loop of the joining yarn, it being necessary to provide separate looping means, usually a thread-looping element, for the narrow loops to be formed into loops of a knitted chain by which the fabric portions or loops are joined together.

An object of the invention is to provide, in or for a machine of said type, a needle which is of such construction as to be operable in the formation of the joining 3,503,353 Patented Mar. 31, 1970 knitted chain without the cooperation of separate looping means such as the usual thread-looping element.

The invention provides a linking machine needle having a stem with one end formed as a shank portion suitable for releasable attachment to an operating member in a linking machine, an opposite end portion tapering substantially to a point, as in the usual linking or sewing needle, for ease in penetrating fabric portions or loops thereof and, adjacent the latter end portion yarn-receiving and loop control means for the passage of one loop through another, as in knitting machine or crocheting needles.

The needle, with one end tapering substantially to a point, has a slot formed in it adjacent to the tapered end to provide a hook and adapted for passage of yarn into and out of the hook and for allowing retraction of the needle through a loop with the loop riding over the hook.

The slot is inclined to both the major and minor axes of the needle stem so that a portion of one side wall of the slot is flush or even with the tip of the hook. Alternatively, the slot may be of helical form to provide for a loop riding over the hook.

For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference is made to the following description of typical embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged side view of the hooked end of one form of linking machine'needle embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an under-side view of the needle of FIG. 6;

FIG. 3 is a view, similar to FIG. 1, of a modified form of linking machine needle embodying the invention;

FIG. 4 is an under-side view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the needle end on the line 55 of FIG. 3 and showing, in broken lines, an old loop on the needle;

FIG. 6 is a partial plan view of a part of a linking machine showing one of the needles in operation;

FIG. 7 illustrates the action of a yarn control finger in the linking machine;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross section of a needle similar to that shown in FIG. 4, but showing fabric on the needle;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the hook end of a further embodiment of the needle in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of part of the needle shown in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the needle part shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a linking machine needle is provided comprising a rectangular cross section spring steel wire or rod stem 11 having a shank portion and having an end portion 12 tapering substantially to a point P and forming a downwardly directed beak-like tip 13.

In the stem 11, behind the end portion 12, there is a hook formation 15 provided by forming a slot 16 in the stem. This slot consists of a lead-in open end portion 16a which is inclined inwardly of the stem toward the pointed end thereof, and a portion 16b, forming an inner surface of hook 15, extending from the inclined portion 16a along the length of stem 11 toward the pointed end thereof.

The outer surface of hook 15 is substantially flush or even with the outer surface of stem 11. Furthermore, it will be noted that slot 16 is inclined to both the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis of the needle.

The inclined lead-in portion 16a of the slot starts at the under-side of the needle such that the hook 15 is disposed substantially to one side of the needle (FIG. 2), with the portion 16a of the slot extending diagonally across the under-side of the needle from the hook toward the pointed end thereof, and with the tip 15a of the hook adjacent the bottom edge of the needle (FIG. 1). The other portion 16b of the slot extends diagonally of the needle at the opposite side of the hook and at a slight angle to the inclined lead-in portion 16a of the slot at the hook side of the needle as shown in FIG. 1. Slot 16, and thus hook 15, have a length which is substantially equal to the length of pointed end portion 12 outwardly of the root end of the hook formation.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the slot has straight sides, being formed by saw cutting. In the embodiment of the needle shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the hook 15' and slot 16' are of sinuous or twisted form, such that the part 16b of the slot is inclined downwardly from the hook 15', which latter is substantially halfway of the thickness of the needle at the side where the hook is disposed. The other side of the part 161) of the slot inclines upwardly from the hook 15, as indicated in broken liens at 160'. FIG. 4 shows that the portion 16a of the slot extends diagonally substantially as in the construction of FIGS. 1 and 2.

In the use of either of these needles for knitted chain stitching, the needle with an old loop on a stem is advanced to receive yarn Y fed to it, as shown in FIG. 2, at the angle shown across the slotted under-side, the yarn extending from a feeder 17 (FIG. 6) at the non-hook side of the needle across to the hook side thereof and then through the fabric F to be joined, into the old loop. The yarn is urged upwardly against the under-side ofthe needle so that it enters the lead-in part 16a, 16a of the slot 16, 16'. In the case of the straight sided, inclined slot of FIGS. 1 and 2, the yarn is clear of the tip 15aof the hook 15 immediately as it enters the slot. In the ,case of the helical or twisted slot of FIGS. 3 and 4, the yarn is guided by the slot into a position clear of the tip 15a of the hook 15'.

In each instance, the result is that, upon retraction of the needle, the hook rides under the yarn and the yarn is drawn rearwardly through the fabric F to be joined and through the oldloop OL on the needle stern.

It is important to note that the hook 15 will not foul the old loop L, in the case of straight sided slot, by virtue of the portion 16a extending diagonally across the needle. In the case of the helical or twisted construction, likewise no fouling of the old loop will take place, by virtue of the tip a of the hook being disposed rearwardly in relation to the old loop as shown in broken lines in FIG. 5. In addition, in neither instance will the hook 15 or 15' foul the fabric by virtue of the underneath part of the fabric extending around the linking points 18 as shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 6 illustrates the yarn feeding position with the feeder 17 feeding the yarn Y from the inner side of the fabric F, and the needle being operated from the outer side of the fabric F. It is important to note that the 11pward disposition of the yarn Yin the inclined, helical, or twisted slot 16 ensures that when the needle retracts, the yarn is held upwardly clear of the next adjacent fabric holding point 18.

FIG. 7 shows the yarn holding guide 17 with the arrows A and B indicating that'it has an arcuate upward motion to urge the yarn into the slot of the needle, and an arcuate downward motion to position the yarn ready for the advancing needle to cross over it. Operation of the needle and of the yarn guide may be effected by the means disclosed inU4S. Patent No. 3,292,563; but at opposite sides of the fabric.

In a convenient method of making the helical or twisted construction, the slot 16 or 16' is stamped out of the stem with the part 16b or 16b parallel to the stern. Then a relative twist under heat is effected between the stem and the end portion thereof through an angle of the order of about 45. In another method of forming either needle, the slots may be formed by spark erosion. Conveniently, the inclined construction may have a slight twist in the stem and/or imparted to it by suitable mechanism. w

It should be understood that, within. the scope of the invention, the needle may be used for any purpose where it isrequired to draw a new loop of yarn through an old loop. An example of this is in a sewing machine where it is required for a needle to produce knitted chain stitching. This could be effected conveniently by use of a needle embodying the invention and operated from the underside of the fabric, with yarn being fed at the upper side of the fabric.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, the needle is substantially rectangular in cross section and is formed with a circular cross section pointed tip 116a. In addition, there is formed, near the pointed end 116a, a slot 116b which, as shown in FIG. 9, terminates in an inclined end leg 1161:. FIG. 10 shows that the slot inclines to the longitudinal or major axis of the needle, and FIG. 11 shows that the slot inclines also with respect to the transverse or minor axis of the needle, so that the effect of forming the slot is to provide a hook 116d the tip 1162 of which is off-center so that, as shown in FIG. 10, its outer surface is substantially flush or even with the outer portion 116 of the stem.

The arrangement conveniently is such that, as shown in FIG. 10, slot 116b allows entry of yarn Y, which is lapped about the needle (as disclosed in said U.S. patent application Ser. No. 257,719) so that the yarn is caught by the hook 116d to be carried along with the needle in its retraction.

FIG. 11 shows that the effect of the tip 116 of the needle hook and the opposite portion 116 being substantially level with each other, is that this prevents an old chain loop OCL (said US. Patent No. 3,292,563) from entering the slot 116]) and being caught by the hook, so that yarn Y can be drawn as a loop through the old chain loop as required.

What is claimed is:

1. A knitwear chain stitch linking machine needle comprising an elongated stem, a shank portion at one end of the stem for releasable attachment in an operating member of knitwear chain stitch linking machine, an imperforate pointed end portion at the other end of the stem, said pointed end portion being of substantially circular cross section throughout and gradually tapering to a point suitable for smooth passage into and out of overlapping fabric portions to be chain stitched together, and yarn and loop control means comprising a hook formation extending from a root end in the region of the wide end of said pointed end portion and in a direction along the stem away from said pointed end portion to an offset facing tip portion and having an outer surface which is a substantially conforming extension of the outer surface of the stem, and a slot of elongated narrow formation having a lead-in open end portion at a location where it forms, at one side, an inner surface of the hook and from where it extends laterally and longitudinally of the needle stem towards said pointed end portion to a blind end at the root end of the elongated hook, said elongated slot being defined throughout its length by substantially parallel and unbroken side walls for ready passage of yarn along the slot, and also extending for a distance along the stem such that the slot, and consequently the hook, are of a length substantially equal to the length of said pointed end portion outwardly of the root end of the hook formation, for satisfactory releasable retention of yarn by the hook.

2. A needle, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slot is substantially straight sided and extends at a substantially acute angle to both the longitudinal and transverse axes of the needle stem.

3. A needle, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shank portion and the remainder of the stem, except for the pointed end portion, are of substantially rectangular cross section.

4. A linking needle, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said slot is substantially of sinuous form.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/ 1903 Manwaring 112-224 1/1910 French 112223 10/1956 Surbeck 112-224 FOREIGN PATENTS 8/1903 France.

US. Cl. X.R. 

